D-Day invasion essays

D-Day invasion essays From 1941to 1944, American and the Allies pursued their goal of defeating Germany first. Their strategy rested on a key assumption that there would ultimately have to be a massive invasion of Northwest Europe, at the heart of the Axis empire. By creating this second front in Europe, German pressure on the Soviet Union would be reduced and Germany would be trapped between the Soviets in the east and the American and British in the west. The Germans anticipated the attack and knew it would determine the wars outcome. What they didnt know was precisely when and where the Allies would strike. Fortification of the coast of Northwest Europe was underway. The success on the battlefield and production in the factories made it possible to begin formal planning of this momentous operation in 1943 and became known as Operation Overlord. American general, Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed as the leader of the seven men (three Americans and four British) who were the masterminds behind the operation. A key part of the success of D-Day rested on keeping Germany from knowing exactly when and where the assault would take place. American and British bombers carried out raids farther north days before the actual invasion in order to deceive the Germans. The plan entailed landing nine divisions of sea and airborne troops, over 150,000 men, along a 50-mile stretch in Normandy, France in just 24 hours known as D-Day. Six divisions would assault five codenamed landing beaches. The Utah Beach was assigned to the U.S. 4th Division. The U.S. 29th and 1st would land at Omaha Beach. Further east, the British 50th Division would assault Gold Beach and the 3rd Division would take Sword Beach. The Canadian 3rd Division would attack Juno Beach. The troops had military training in Britain to prepare them for the invasion. The date for the invasion had been set at May 17 but bad weather forced Eisenhower to delay ...